Oil slick blackens part of Jomtien Beach

An oil slick that washed up on Jomtien Beach had locals pointing fingers at a tanker that was thought to have capsized three days earlier.

The black stain with balls of petroleum washed ashore near Soi 15 in Jomtien April 10, stretching for about a kilometer of sand. Ten workers cleaned up the mess with sanitation chief Laddawadee Chawna speculating the oil came from a tanker that capsized off the Maha Chai Bay in Samut Sakorn April 7.

Mother Apaporn Somjai, 22, brought her children to play in the ocean but quickly pulled them out when she noticed the oil.

Beach chair vendor Pojjanee Payungkasem, 52, said she’d never seen Jomtien polluted as much as the current spill.

Mother Apaporn Somjai, 22, had brought her kids to play in the ocean and quickly pulled them out when she noticed the oil.